SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
As we see from the two candles lit on the wreath before us, Advent is well underway; Christmas is only 18 days away! So, have you found that most important gift yet? Do you even know what it is? Everyone has his or her concept of what is most important. Our lesson on this, the Second Sunday in Advent, presents us with a man who understood what was most important in his life. His name was John. We know him as John the Baptist. Listen again as we hear the […]
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
This week, we join with the universal Church in celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since it has been moved from Sunday to Monday – the Sunday of Advent takes precedence over the feast day – it is not a holy day of obligation and we will celebrate Mass at the usual weekday times: 6:30 and 8:00am.
Mary enjoys many wondrous titles but this one is of particular significance. It is so important that it is under this title that Mary is Principal Patroness of […]
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
I heard an interesting ad on KYW earlier this week. It was for one of those new vacation packages. Rather than going on a cruise to some exotic destiny, the ad invites you to a health spa on a ranch in the Midwest where you will be offered the latest health care treatments and learn about how changes in your diet and exercise will help you extend your life. After all, the ad asserts, the most important destiny is a long and healthy life.
Today, as we celebrate the First Sunday […]
SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING
“For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” We just heard Jesus make this very important, defining declaration in today’s gospel. And, in just a little more than four weeks, we will celebrate the birth of Jesus. Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? But today, as we come to the end of our liturgical year, we hear Jesus testify why he was born: to testify to the truth. And, although we didn’t hear it in today’s gospel passage, we’re […]
THE SEASON OF ADVENT
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the wave. …And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud. …When these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand” (Lk 21:25ff).
With these words, our Lord helps to prepare us for his coming. As we begin a new liturgical year today, the First Sunday of Advent, allow me to […]
SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
On this, the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year, the Church calls us to think of the end of our lives, our final judgment and our final destiny – the Kingdom of God. The apocalyptic vision that we hear in today’s first reading from the Book of Daniel sets the tone by speaking about the coming of a “Son of man” who receives dominion, glory and kingship over all peoples, nations, and languages who will serve him. The passage from the Book of Revelation that we hear today is […]
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
“And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.” Most of us are so busy with our everyday lives that we don’t give ourselves much – if any – time to reflect on the end of our lives and the end of time. And yet, we all know that we will die. As […]